Rookie New Zealand fast bowler Andy McKay saw fit to issue a formal apology after closing down party central in the third cricket test against India here today.
The left-arm quick wrecked the hopes of many cricket purists by claiming the wicket of none other than Sachin Tendulkar, a man
hero worshipped in this nation of one billion.
The 37-year-old had appeared destined to push on from his overnight 57 and become the first man on this or any other planet to register 50 test centuries.
But the VCA Stadium crowd was stunned into silence in just the second over on the third morning when McKay induced an edge behind from the great man, who just two balls earlier had edged the same bowler to the boundary at third man.
"I want to apologise to the crowd, I feel sorry for them," McKay said with a mischievous smile at a news conference where his dismissal of the best batsman of his generation was the first topic raised.
"The ball I got Sachin with I was looking to bowl it pretty quick and put more effort into it. It paid off," he said of a delivery angled across the short Indian before touching the bat high up en route to the waiting gloves of wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins.
"I am very happy. Another one-two wickets would have been nice but to get a player like Sachin Tendulkar in my first test is fantastic."
The 30-year-old Wellingtonian impressed on his debut and was certainly better than his final figures of one for 120 off 31 overs would suggest.
India have totally dominated the match, earning a first innings lead of 373 runs after scoring 566 for eight declared then reducing the tourists to 24 for one in their second innings by stumps.
They appear headed for a heavy defeat but no matter the result, McKay will to his grave with a smile on his face at the memory of the day he had Tendulkar's number.
- NZPA
